Apparatus for applying disinfectants and deodorants.



E. L. MUNSON.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING DISINFECTANTS AND DBODORANTS.

APPLICATION rILBD AUG. 17, 1912.

1,072,351 Patented Sept.2,1913.

UTE

EIDVARD LYMAN MUNSON, 0F THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING DISINFECTANTS AND DEODORANTS.

Application filed August 17, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

serial No. 715,663.

To alt wlw/m, 'it may concern Be it known that l, EDWARD L. Munson, major, Medical Corps, United States Army, a citizen ot the United States, resir"ling.` at New llaven, in the county ot New Haven and State oit Connecticut, have `invented certain new and use'tul Improvements in Apparatus ttor Applying Disintectants and Deodorants; and I do hereby declare the .tollowing` to be a full, clear, and exact description ol2 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for the use of disintectants and deodorants, and it consists of certainlnovel features that will be hereinafter described and claimed.

It is well known that with the present mode ot applying' disintectants and deodorants, in which the articles to be disintected or deodorized are contained in a chamber, vessel, or box having fixed walls, and inclosing air under normal atmospheric pressure, the disinfecting or deodorizing, gases when injected into this atmosphere contained in the chamber mingle with the air and are largely diluted and weakened in etticiency thereby. This objection is in certain instances remedied, at considerable trouble and expense, by the use of vacuum chambers, from which the air is exhausted before the disinfectant gas is let in.

According to my invention, I use a portable generating apparatus for generating the disint'ectingl or deodorizing gases at the time and place required, and this portable apparatus is preferably made of such size and shape that it may be inclosed in a collapsible bag containing' the articles to be treated, and the gas issuing from the apparatus 'forms a strong' gaseous mixture which inllates the bag as the gas is generated. Furthermore, the chemicals used are such as to generate the gas at sutliciently high temperature, and containing a sufficient amount of aqueous vapor, which vapor condenses upon the articlcs treated and serves to insure the etlicient action et the gas, which it carries down Vin "ater solution upon the infectious niatters.

Wy invention will be understood by roterence to the accompanying' drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same numerals throughout the several views.

Figure l shows a central vertical section through the aplriaratus, parts being shown in elevation and parts broken away; Fig'. 2 shows a section through the apparatus along' the line 2m?. oit li`ig. il, and looking' down; Fig. In shows the apparatus as used in a collapsible bag' containiinr the articles to be treated; and Fie'. Lfl: shows the apparatus used outside a room :tor 'forcing the generated gas into a closed space.

jl represents an outer containing, vessel, which we will call the container, which is closed by a cover Q, having a hollow cylinder 3 attached thereto,projecting downward into the containerl and 'forming a gas bell. This top 2 is dctachably connected to the con tainer in any convenient way, as by screw threads 4l, and is made suitably gas tight as by a gasket oit rubber, leather, or the like. Mounted in the bell is a mixing' chamber G, which is also preferably cylindrical and which is sup ported above the base oit the container and centered in any convenient way,

as by means et the legs 7 which project down into the hollow supports 8, projectingl above the bottom ot the container. I preilerably provide three ot these supports` two hollow, as at S, and the other solid, as at S, the three being arranged in triangular' relation so that the bottom oitl the mixing' cha1n ber may be held a suitable distance above the bottom ot' the container, and at the same time the container may be centered and held in fixed relation with regard to the dosing box, as will be hereinafter described. Mounted in the upper end oit the mixing chamber (l is said dosing.;l box S), which is preferably in cylindrical itorm, and `is provided with a hinged bottom il() normally held in place by the spring clip llfl, but which may be pressed downward releasing' said bottom and dumpint,r the contents thcreot into the mixing' chamber. This dosing box is detachably mounted in the mixing' chamber in any convenient way, but in order that it may always be in the proper relation with regard to the tripping device t'or the bottom thereof, l preferably provide three pins 12 engaging in notches in the upper end ot the mixing; chamber, and provided with heads 13, and a 'tourth pin IQ, which is not provided with a head but passes through a hole in the shell 0'1"". the mixing' chamber `\\\'hereby the parts cannot be assembled except when in the proper angular relation.

Mounted above the 'tree end of: the bottom l() oit the dosing box a spring;l plunger l/l passing through a screw-threaded sleeve 15, screwed in the cover 2 and kept gas-tight by a set collar 16 on the plunger, and a gasket 17 between said collar and said sleeve. The pressure of the gases will tend to keep this joint tight, as will also the action of the restoring spring 18, which tends to return the spring plunger 14 tothe initial position. rlliis spring plunger is preferably provided with a head 19 for convenience in manipulation.

Connected to the container 1 are one or more nozzles 2O with gas passages 21 controlled by cocks 22 and 22a. I preferably provide two of these nozzles and cocks, so that one may be left permanently open if desired, and thus serve as a safety vent to prevent the apparatus from exploding should the pressure of the gases contained therein become too great. For such reason,

the cock 22EL preferably has no thumb pieceV and can only be turned by pliers, or with some ditliculty. Should it be desired, of course, either or both of the cocks can be closed or opened. Une or both of these nozzles may be provided with a tube of rubber, or the like, 23 for carrying the gases generated to the point of delivery.

The use of theV device in practice is as follows: Any suitable liquid, such as formalin, is placed in the bottom of the mixing` chamber 6, the level of such liquid being indicated by the dotted lines 25 in Fig. 1. Above the bottom 10 in the dosing box any suitable granular reagent 26 is placed, such as permangana'te of potasli, calcium carbid, quick lime or the like. rlhe Darts beinO- assembled` in the position shown in Fig. 1, the top being sealed, the cock 222L -being opened and the cock 22 being closed, by pushing down on the head 19 of the plunger, the bottom 10 of the dosing box will be released freni the catch 11, and it will fall to the position inn dicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the granular contents dropping into the liquid inthe bottom of the container and the gas gen- `erated or liberated by the heat of the reaction will rise upward in the mixing chamber and then pass downward inside thergas bell 8, and finally up through the annular space between the gas bell and the contaiiiei and out through the open cock 22a. lf it be desired, both cocks may be left open, in which event gas Vwill flow through both cocks. The gas generated will be heated by the chemical reaction and will also carry along with it considerable aqueous vapor, which aqueous vapor will condense on the articles to be treated when the gas becomes cooled sufliciently, thus furnishing the necessary moisture for the efficient action of the disinfectant or deodorant in protoplasin. By using a strong concentration of gas, at

' a high temperature and saturated with incisture, the gas penetrates rapidly into all parts of the gas bell 3, any drops of liquid and solid matters thrown off by the violent ebullitioii of the chemicals will drop into the bottom of the container, and only the gas and aqueous vapor in suspension will pass upward and find its exit through the nozzles. As considerable heat may be engendered during the operation of the device, the bottom of the mixing chamber is preferably spaced away from the bottom of the container, as shown, so that'the articles being treated may not be subjected to excessive heat.

This apparatus is especially useful for treating baggage, or clothing in sinall quantities, in which case the baggage, or clothing to be treated is placed in a collapsible bag 27 (see Fig. 3), the apparatus is placed in the bag together with the articles to be treated, the air, as far asV practicable, is pressed out of the bag, and the open end of the bag is sealed up. The plunger is then pressed downward from the outside of the bag after the bag has been sealed. ln such instances, it is preferable to have both cooks open so that the gases generated may disseminate from two directions through the articles to be treated, and the ybag with the clothing, gas, and apparatus therein may be left sealed for an indefinite period, or it may .be opened after an adequate time interval has elapsed. Suitable bags for this purpose would be the rubber bags made of rubber sheeting or the ponclios used by soldiers,

bags made of heavy paper, or other bags especially-manufactured for the purpose. lt will be obvious that if large articles, suoli. as mattresses are toV be treated, large bags ofA special construction may be used. ltewil-l also be obvious that the portable apparatus may be placed in the bottom of a trunk among the articles to be disinfected, and the trunk closed, or it may be placed in an ice chest, refrigerator, cellar, or other room, box, or receptacle where the processes of Vdis-A infecting or deodorizing` are desired.y TheV apparatus may also be used outside them to disinfect closed rooms, or the contents of rigid or flexible containers, as shown in Fig.

4, where the container 1 is connected to the key-hole of a door by the tube 23.

It will be obvious that the apparatus may be made in Varying sizes to suit the requirements, thus for treat-ing the individual outiit of a soldier or sailor', a small container about the size of a half gallon cup will be sutliciently large, while where it is desired to treat lar'ge chambers, or other receptacles, a

large size et apparatus may be used.

l do not claim to have discovered any special chemical reagents, whereby the gases for disintecting or deodorizing may be gener ated, as these are well-l nown in the art. rlhe apparatus is adapted to generate a great variety otl such disintecting or deodorizing gases, the fundamental principle being that the two reagents :tor generating the gas are held in the same vessel, but separated, until the moment it is desired to gcnerate the gas, then the two reagents are brought together, and the gases generated and delivered as desired.

it will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein described apparatus and in the construction, combination and arrangement ott parts which could be used without departing from the spirit oit my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what claim and desire to secure by Letters Iatent of the United States is:

l. A disiniiecting and deodorizing apparatus comprising a readily collapsible and inflatable envelop; containing vessel associated with said envelop; a mixing chamber mounted in said containing vessel and adapted to contain liquid; a dose box located above the bottom oit said mixing chamber adapted to contain chemical reagents; with means adapted to be operated from the exterior of said container envelop tor dumping the contents Otl said dose box into said liquid; and means tor conducting the gases generated in said container to the interior ot said envelop, substantially as described.

A disinfecting and deodorizing appa- 'atus comprising a containing vessel, a mixing chamber mounted therein and adapted to contain liquid, means tor centering and supporting said mixing chamber :from the bottom ot said containing vessel, a dose box located above the bottom ot' said mixing chamber adapted to contain chemical reagents in granular form, with means operated from the exterior et said container tor dumping the contents of said dose box into said liquid, comprising a spring plunger projecting through the cover oit the container, and a yielding bottom mounted in said dose box and adapted to be released by said spring plunger, and means tor carrying oil the gases generated from said container, substantially as described.

3. A disintecting and deodorizing apparatus comprising a containing vessel, a mixing chamber mounted therein and adapted to contain liquid, means '.tor centering and supporting said chamber above the bottom ott said containing vessel, a dose box located above the bottom ot said mixing chamber adapted to contain a chemical reagent, with means operated from the exterior ot said container 'for dlnnping the contents oi said dose box into said liquid, a detachable cover mounted on said container and provided with a downwardly projecting shell forming a gas beil. and means :for carrying oill the gases generated trom said container, substantially as described.

4l. A disintecting and deodorizing apparatus connirising a containing vessel, a mixing chamber mounted therein and adapted to contain liquid, n'ieans for centering and supporting said chamber above the bottom oit said containing vessel, a dose box located above the bottom oit said mixing chamber adapted to contain chemical reagents in granular torni, with means operated from the exterior ot said container for dumping the contents ot said dose box into said liquid, comprising a spring plunger projecting through the cover ot the container, and a yielding bottom mounted in said dose box and adapted to be released by said spring plunger, a detachable cover mounted on said container and rovided with a downwardly projecting shel formino' a gas bell, and means tor carrying oil' t e gases generated from said container, substantially as described.

A disin'teeting and deodorizing apparatus comprising a cylindrical containing vessel, a cylindrical mixing chamber mounted therein and adapted to contain liquid, means for centering and supporting said chamber above the bottom of said containing vessel, a dose box located above the bottom ot said mixing chan'iber adapted to contain a chemical reagent, with means operated :trom the exterior o said container for dumping the contents of said dose box into said liquid, a detachable cover mounted on said container and provided with a cylindrical shell forming a gas bell projecting downwardly between said mixing chamber and said container, and means for carrying oit' the gases generated from said container, substantially as described.

(t. A disintecting and deodorizing apparatus comprising a containing vessel, a mixing chamber mounted therein and adapted to contain liquid, means for centering and srqiporting said chamber above the bottom oit said containing vessel, a dose box supported t'rom the top of said mixing chamber adapted to contain a chemical reagent, and provided with a yieldingly sustained hinged bottom, a spring plunger operated from the exterior ot' said container for releasing said bottom and dumping the contents ot Said dose box into said liquid, a detachable cover .mounted on said container and provided with a shell forming a gas bell projecting downward between said mixing chamber and said container, and means for carrying ott the gases generated from said container, substantially as described.

7. A disinfect-ing and cleodorizing appa-` ratus comprising a containing vessel, a mixing chamber mounted therein and adapted to contain liquid7 means for centering and supportingsaid cliambe above the bottom of said Containing Vessel, i close boX supported and Centered at the top of said mixing chamber adapted to Contain a chemical reagent, with means operated from the eX- terioi' of said container for dumping the contents of said dose box into saicl liquid, a

gas bell interposed between said Container and said mixing` chamber,y and means for carrying off the gases genertaecl from said container7 substantially as described.

n testimony whereof, I aiX my signatui'e7 in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD LYMAN MUN SON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commssioneiof Patents, Washington, D. C. 

